Tests of general relativity with binary black holes from the second LIGO-Virgo gravitational-wave transient catalog

(LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

529 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gravitational waves enable tests of general relativity in the highly dynamical and strong-field regime. Using events detected by LIGO-Virgo up to 1 October 2019, we evaluate the consistency of the data with predictions from the theory. We first establish that residuals from the best-fit waveform are consistent with detector noise, and that the low- and high-frequency parts of the signals are in agreement. We then consider parametrized modifications to the waveform by varying post-Newtonian and phenomenological coefficients, improving past constraints by factors of ∼2; we also find consistency with Kerr black holes when we specifically target signatures of the spin-induced quadrupole moment. Looking for gravitational-wave dispersion, we tighten constraints on Lorentz-violating coefficients by a factor of ∼2.6 and bound the mass of the graviton to mg≤1.76×10-23 eV/c2 with 90% credibility. We also analyze the properties of the merger remnants by measuring ringdown frequencies and damping times, constraining fractional deviations away from the Kerr frequency to δf^220=0.03-0.35+0.38 for the fundamental quadrupolar mode, and δf^221=0.04-0.32+0.27 for the first overtone; additionally, we find no evidence for postmerger echoes. Finally, we determine that our data are consistent with tensorial polarizations through a template-independent method. When possible, we assess the validity of general relativity based on collections of events analyzed jointly. We find no evidence for new physics beyond general relativity, for black hole mimickers, or for any unaccounted systematics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122002
JournalPhysical Review D
Volume103
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jun 2021
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Australian Research Council
ICTP South American Institute for Fundamental Research
Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações
National Research Foundation of Korea
Narodowe Centrum Nauki
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
National Science Foundation
Conselleria d’Innovació, Universitats, Ciència i Societat Digital de la Generalitat Valenciana
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Scottish Funding Council
Actions de Recherche Concertées
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
French Lyon Institute of Origins
Leverhulme Trust
Science and Engineering Research Board
Generalitat de Catalunya
Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Kavli Foundation
Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal
European Commission
Russian Foundation for Basic Research
Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
Russian Science Foundation
Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej
Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
Royal Society
Universitat de les Illes Balears
European Regional Development Fund
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek—Vlaanderen
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Fundação para a Ciência e a TecnologiaIncentivo/SAU/LA0001/2013
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science18H03698
UK Research and Innovation104065

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